Glass working apparatus and method



G. E. HOWARD GLASS WORKING APPARATUS AND METHOD March 19, 1935.1,995,276

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GLASS WORKING APPARATUS AN METHOD Filed 00t.` 21, 1931 16 Sheets-Sheet12 March 19, 1935. G Ef HOWARD GLAss'woRKING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filedoct. 21, 1931 16 sheets-smet 13 lllllll/l 7mm-J 55077@ @slll/Ill/'ll/Illllllll Wn ess Wx? mw March 19, 1935. G, E. HOWARD GLASSWORKING APPARATUS AND METHOD I Filed` Oct. 2l, 1931 16 Sheets-Sheet 14March 19, 1935. G. E. HOWARD GLASS WORKING APPARATUS AND METHOD FiledOct. 2l, 1931 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 QSS; @Wy/W March 19, 1935.

G. E. HOWARD GLASS WORKING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 2l. 1931 16Sheets-Sheet 16 W In ess;

Patented Mar. 19, 193,5v

PATENT OFFICE GLASS WORKING APPARATUS AND Y METHOD George E. Howard,Butler, Pa., assigner to Hartford-Empire Company, Hartford, Conn., acorporation oi' Delaware Application october 21, `1931, serian N6.510,087

28 Claims.

This invention constitutes an improvement upon my prior Patent1,592,299, which patent describes and claims a novel method of formingglassware which I prefer to call the auto-blow method. This auto-blowmethod consists essol sentially in developing a preliminary hollow bodyoi glass while the glass of the body is still attached to a source ofsupply of molten glass,

receiving that body of glass in a suitable mold,V

blowing it to nal form therein; andin those cases in which the articleto be made requires a neck lnish, thereafter treating the article in themold in such a way as to form such nish.

In adapting the broad method of my aforesaid patent to the commercialnecessities of the glass trade, I have made certain importantdiscoveries relating to the control of the thickness of various portionsoi' the developed bubble of glass, to the end that when the article iscompleted, it has the desired distribution of glass both vertically andhorizontally.

The problem of good distribution in the practice of my auto-blow processis intimately associated with the reduction in the amount of glassrequired to make a bottle or other article of requisite strength andcapacity. For a given purpose a bottle must have a minimum resistance torupture, which resistance in a particular bottle is only the'resistanceof the weakest portion thereof.. I have found that one of the particularadvantages of the auto-blow method is that by proper control andcoordination of the several instrumentalities used, bottles and otherarticles of requisite strength may be obtained with a of glass.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide means for andmethods of control of the characteristics of the glass prior to andduring article formation, controlled, fully automatic production of ashaped glass bubble, the reception of that bubble at the proper instantin a mold, and the blowing thereof into an article having walls of`selected and controlled thickness.

A further object of the invention is .to provide a process and anorganized automatic means for carrying out that process, which includesnot only the development of the shaped bubble of glass and the blowingof the same in a mold, but also the nishing of the neck portion of thearticle when desired.

More specific objects of the Ainvention reside in the provision of novelmeans for separating or .severing the bubble of glassfrom the source ofsupply of'molten glass, which is peculiarly advantageous in the practiceof the auto-blow process and which assures that the glass'both above andbelow the severing means is inl proper condition for further operationsafter each severing operation.

which permit accurately (ci. isi-5) Other and more detailed objects ofthe present invention as well as combinations and sub-combinations oithe above named objects are comprehended by the present invention andwill become apparent from a reading of the following speciiication. Y

In the accompanying drawings, I have, fully illustrated one embodimentof mechanism necessary to the performance of the aforegoing objects,many parts of which, per se, exist in the prior. art, but which havenever before to my knowledge, been so combined and used for the purposesor to obtain the results for which they are intended in the embodimentherein shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the entire device;

Fig. 2 is a front view on a larger scale of the feeder portion of thedevice;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 oi' Fig. 2 1

Fig. 5 is a detail view with certain partsin section showing certainportions of the plunger and shear operating means;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of certain portions of the shear mounting andoperating structure;

taken substantially Fig. 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of themachine portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 8 -is a partial vertical sectional view taken substantially on theline 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view with some parts in horizontal section oi the meansfor intermittently rotating the table of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section of the table locking device;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view showing the ltable rotating pin anda portion of the table;

Fig. 12 is a plan' view partially broken away and in horizontal sectionloi' the cushioning valve of the operating cylinder for the table;

Fig. 13 is an elevation with parts in vertical section of the valveshown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the nishing tool operating means;

Fig. 15 is an elevation with parts in vertical section of the nishingtool cooperating with the mold to finish a bottle and the operatingmeans for the finishing tool;

Fig. 16 is a plan View of a modied form o1' the machine portion of thedevice; v

Fig. 17 is an elevational v iew with parts in vertical section showingthe operation of the iorm of the device shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an elevational view with parts in vertical section of aportionof the construction shown in Fig. 16 showing particularly theoperation of the traveling pick oi-and burner:

Fig. 19 is an elevational view with certain Yparts in vertical sectionof the timing mechanism for the machine and also of the puff blowcontrolling mechanism:

Fig. is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 20-20of Fig. 19;

Fim-21 is an elevational view with parts broken away and in verticalsection, the view being taken substantially on the line 21-21 of Fig.19;

Fig. 22 is-a piping diagram of the feeder portion of the device shown inFigs. 1 to 6 and the machine as shown in Fig. 7; g

Fig. 23 shows certain modifications of the piping .diagram of Fis.22applicable for use with the modified form of the machine portion ofthe device shown in Fig. 16:

Fig. 24 (Sheet 11) is a plan view of the modifled form of shearmechanism for simultaneously severing glass at two vertically spacedpoints;

Figs. 25 and 26 are views substantially in vertical section showing theuse of the shear mechanism of Fig. 24;

Fig. 27 (Sheet 12) is a fragmentary view with parts broken out showing afixed pick oif adapted for use in connection with an intermittentlyrotated mold carrier;

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a head which may beused with either the fixed or traveling "pick oif;

Fig. 29 (Sheet 11) is a detail in vertical section of an annular burnerwhich may be used in connection with either the fixed or traveling pickcan; l

Figs. 30 to 34 inclusive (Sheet 10) show various stages of the processby which the pick oif method of forming a neck opening into the interiorof an article producedgby the auto blow process may be carried out,Figs. 33 and 34 also disclosing the use of a secondary neck ring ofdifferent size than the primary neck ring shown in Figs. to 32inclusive;

Figs. 35- to 38 (Sheet 14) show the development of a bubble of glass toproduce an article having a relatively thin top and relatively thickbottom;

Figs. 39 to 42 show the development of a bub- `ble of glass to producean article having a relatively thin bottom and a relatively thick top:

Figs. 43 to 52 inclusive show the various process stages in theformation of an article by the auto blow" process in which verticalmovement is imparted to a blow pipe and the plunger and sleeve areretained stationary;

Figs. 53 and 54 show the contour of certain cams for the plunger andblow pipe respectively by which the plunger may be moved while they blowpipe is retained stationary; and

Figs. 55 to 59 inclusive show steps of the formation of an article bytheauto-blowf process in which the article is produced by holding the blowpipe stationary and moving the plunger, as will be accomplished by theuse of cams shown in Figs. 53 and 54.

FEEDER PORTION or 'rHn Dsvrcs The feeder portion of the device, bestillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, comprises essentially amodification of the forehearth, bowl and mechanism of Peiler Patent1,760,254, granted May 27, 1930, to which patent reference is made for adescription of common subject matter, applicant contenting himself inthe structural description in pointing out the essential features ofdinerence between his device and that of the Peiler patent.

portion of the bowl of the Peiler patent to pro- .Y

vide a divided stream now of glass to the outlet somewhat similar tothat of my prior Patent 1,553,819, granted September 15. 1925.v

To this end, I provide an island 1 of the connguration shown, whichdivides the stream of glass and causes it to flow into a cup 2 fromseveral sides. Also I prefer the arrangement shown including the cup 2to the arrangement shown in the Peiler patent.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown more particularly inFig. 3, the extreme forward glass contacting wall of the feeder bowl issomewhat flattened, as indicated at 3, whereby the separated streams ofglass after passing the island 1 will be caused to converge rapidly as`they approach the discharge outlet at the forward end of the feederbowl. Such a provision has been found to assure axially symmetricalviscosity conditions of the glass issuing from the outlet. 'Ihe glass isthus directed from several sides, first into the cup-like bowl 2, thencedownwardly through the well 4 through interchangeable orifice ring 5.Also in the-preferred embodiment of my invention, I substitute for therearwardly positioned stack 113 of Peiler a forward stack 6 providedwith the adjustable damper 7, whereby more emciently to provide a risingtemperature gradient toward the forward end of the bowl when desired.However, this result may be suiIiciently obtained by usingthe identicalheating and draft control means of the Peiler patent. Also if desired, Imay furnish both stacks and use them selectively.

If desired, the hydrostatic head over the oriflce may be regulated as inthe Peiler patent, but I prefer to regulate such head, and hence theaverage rate at which glass issues from the orifice in a given period oftime, by a stationary but adjustable sleeve or tube 8, the lower end ofwhich depends a regulable distance into the cup 2 and acts with thewalls of that cup to regulate the size and resistance of the flowpassage for the glass. Except for the arrangement above mentioned, thissleeve or tube may be formed, mounted and adjusted by mechanism in everyway identical with that shown in the aforesaid Peiler patent, althoughequivalent mechanism may be substituted therefor if desired.

Adjustably mounted for selected axial reciprocatin'g motion, or ifdesired for adjustable stationary use within the sleeve 8 is a dischargecontrolling member or plunger 9, the member and its mounting beingsomewhat similar to the plunger 172 of the aforesaid Peiler patent,except that it is provided with an axial bore for the blow pipehereinafter to be described, and except that the mechanism for operatingitl (see Fig. 5),`either as a reciprocating implement or as a stationarycontrol member, differs from the Peiler arrangement.

The plunger 9 is carried by an arm 10 which is mounted, guided andadjusted by means such as is shown in the Peiler patent, and is providedwith an actuating link 11 (Fig. 5) corresponding to the link 224 of thePeiler patent, through which vertical reciprocation may be imparted tothe plunger. The plunger is preferably provided as shown with meansproviding for all of the static adjustments of the Peiler device,

including vertical .positioning and lateral positioning `universally ina horizontal plane.

'Ihe means for driving the plunger (see Figs.

1, 2 and 5) comprises a cam 12 mounted on a,

shaft 13 driven from an electric motor 14 through a suitable speedchanging device 15. The cam 12 comprises a pair of complementarysemi-circular lobe sections which are fastened by means of the bolt andnut arrangement shown to a suitable hub keyed to the shaft l13. Thisarrangement permits the cam to be angularly adjusted about the cam shaftand permits ready interchangeability of cams when it isdesired to obtaindifferent plunger action. A cam of different shape for imparting adifferent motion to the plunger 9 is shown at 12 in Fig. 53. Thislmechanism for adjustingl the plunger action is simpler and lessexpensive than that of the Peiler patent, but obviously, if desired, thePeiler patent construction could be substituted therefor.

Cooperating with the cam 12 (Fig. 5) is a cam roller 16 mounted upon thefree end of the lever 17 pivoted at 18 to a ilxed part of the apparatus,the lever 17 having a roller-engaging face 19 on its upperlside. On theface 19 rests a roller 20, which is in effect a cam roller, the roller20 being mounted upon a suitable supporting block 21 mounted foradjustive movement longitudinally of the lever 22. 'I'he lever 22 ispivoted upon a rocker shaft 23 mounted in bearings 24 (Fig. 3)

-secured to asuitable xed part of the apparatus.

Means are provided for adjusting the block 21 ,longitudinally of thelever 22 comprising a shaft "25. swivelly mounted in and extendinglongitudinally of the lever 22 and provided at its outer end with a head26, the shaft 25 being threaded in the block 21. Thus, rotation of thehead 26 will adjust the roller 20 toward and away from the axis of theshaft 23 and thereby vary the-amount the lever` 22 is swung about itsaxis by a given rise or fall of the cam 12.

Also mounted upon the shaft 23 is a lever 27, which is connected at itsouter end to the hollow 'shaft 28 by the link 11. The lever 22 isprovided withl a laterally and downwardly extending bracket portion 29into which is adjustably threaded a screw 30 provided with a head 31,the

inner end of the screw 30 bearing againstl a shoulder 32 on the lever27. Thus, motion is imparted from the cam roller 16 through the lever1'7, cam roller 20 and lever 22 to the lever 27, and thence through link11 and the vertical hollow shaft 28 to arm 10 and the plunger 9 securedthereto.

Thus, the plunger, in addition to the static adjustments as to itslateral position with respect to the orifice referred to above, isprovided with a plurality of adjustments effecting the characteristicsof its movements. In the first place, the range or positions of thestroke, that is the positions of the upper and lower limits of thestroke of the plunger, are adjusted simultaneously by the set screw 31which determines the relation between levers 22 and 27 without varyingthe amplitude of the stroke or theform of its movement, by which latteris meant a'movement which might rst accelerate faster, then vary theacceleration, then reverse direction and vary the acceleration and/ordeceleration in the other direction. Second, the amplitude of the strokeof the plunger, that is the distance between the upper and lower limitsof the stroke,- may be adjusted by turning the head 26 to vary thedistance between the axis of the roller 20 and the shaft 23, so that agiven rise or fall of the cam 12 will move the plunger up or. down adiierent amount. Also the form of the movement of the plunger4 strokemay be varied by interchanging cams 12. So, for example, a. cam such asis shown in Fig. 5 may be used, all portions of the periphery of whichare at a Xed distance from the center of the shaft 13, whereby theplunger will have azero stroke or amplitude.

On the other hand, a. cam such as is shown in Fig. 53 at 12a may beused, all parts of the periphery of which are not at the same distancefrom the center, so that the plunger will have an up-and-down movementwith respect to the orifice. In addition, assuming that the cam such asis shown at 12 in Fig. 53 be used, it is possible to adjust this camangularly about the shaft '13, whereby the position of the .rise andfall of the plunger stroke with respect to the time of other operationsof vthe'device, hereinafter to be operation of my device.

Blow pipe, constmctzon, mounting and operation (Figs. 1 to 4) In theauto-blow device shown herein, there is provided means for supplying airdownwardly through the orifice to develop a bubble of glasstherebeneath. This means, in practice, may take the form of the blowpipe extending downward p substantially axially of the plunger andsleeve and disposed substantially in vertical axial alignment with theorifice and depending into the glass. Such a blow pipe is shown at 33(Fig. 4). Means must also be provided for supporting the blow pipe and,if desired, for moving it in a substantially similar manner to thathereinbefore described for supporting and moving the plunger, butindependent of such means. As with the plunger, it is contemplated that,the movement of the blow pipe may, and in certain instances does,include zero movement.

As vshown in Figs. 1 to 4, and particularly in Fig. 2, the blow pipe isclamped in a split bracket 34.v The bracket 34 is preferably providedwith a scale shown at 35 (Fig. 2) which may cooperate with a suitable.index mark (not shown) on the blow pipe, so that the position of theblow pipe may be readily ascertained.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the bracket 34 is shown suitably securedto a laterally extending shaft 36 which is slidably mounted in bearings37 and 38 integral with or secured to a horizontal arm 39.

Means are provided forv adjusting the position of the shaft 36longitudinally of the arm 39, such means comprising a. bracket member 40pinned or otherwise suitably secured to the shaft 36 and provided with athreaded aperturethrough which extends the threaded end of a shaft 41swivelly pose of further steadying and guiding the arm 39 in itsmovement, the shaft 44 is provided with `a laterally extending arm 46,the outer end of clamp the arm 39 to the shaft 44. For the purwhich isbifurcated at 47 and slidably receives the guide shaft 48 secured to theouter end of the plunger guiding arm 49. The shaft 48 and the dependingmember 50 are guided for solely vertical movement by the lugs 51 (Fig.1). The arm 46 bearing upon the shaft 48 is thus prevented from rotatingabout the axis of the shaft 44, which prevents lateral movement of theblow pipe 33 about the axis of the shaft 44.

Means are provided for adjusting the blow pipe in a direction laterallyor angularly about the axis 'of the arm 44. For this purpose the arm 39is provided with a narrow extended portion 52, as-seen at the right endof this arm in Fig. 3. The arm 46 is provided with a pair of upwardlyextending lugsr-53 through which are threaded adjusting screws 54bearing against the extension 52 of the arm 39. After the arm 39 hasbeen adjusted as desired with-respect to the arm 46 and the shaft 44 forproperly positioning the blow pipe 33, the arm 39 may be clamped in thedesired adjusted position by the nut 45 and also by the bolt 55 passingthrough a transversely elongated aperture in the arm 39 and threadedinto the arm 46. It will thus be seen that the blow pipe 33 isadjustable universally in a horizontal plane, whereby properly to centerit or otherwise position it with respect to the feeder orifice, and alsois adjustable vertically with respect to this orice. These adjustmentsmay be termed static adjustments.

Means are also provided for moving the blow pipe vertically and forcontrolling the characteristics of this vertical movement in manyrespects similar to the moving and control means of the plunger. Theneans for moving the blow pipe vertically comprises a cam 56 (Fig. 2)mounted upon the shaft 13 for angular adjustment thereabout. Here again,the cam 56 may be formed in two complementary sections, each of whichis. provided with arcuate slots 57 through which extend bolts V58 forsecuring the cam 56 to an annular hub 59, which is in turn secured tothe cam shaft 13.' 'I'he cam 56 is thus rotated in the direction of thearrow in Fig. 2 by power transmitted from the motor 14.

Cooperating with the cam 56 is a cam roller 60 mounted upon the end-of ashort lever 61 pivoted at 62 to a fixed part of the apparatus, the lever61 having an upwardly directed substantially flat surface portion 63similar to the portion 19 of the lever 17. Bearing upon the surface 63of the lever 62 is a second roller 64 mounted upon a block 65, which isadjustably positioned in a lever 66 pivoted upon the rocker shaft 23. Asshown in Fig. 2, the block 65 is mounted for longitudinal slidingmovement in a recess in a lever. 66 and is adjustable along this recessby rotation of the screw shaft 67, which is swivelly mounted in thelever 66 and is provided with an adjusting head 68 at its outer end, thescrew shaft 67 being threaded through the block 65. Thus, rotation ofthe adjusting head 68 is effective to vary the distance between theroller 64 and the fulcrum of the lever 66, so that a rise or fall of thecam 56 will rock `the lever 66 a variable amount depending upon thedistance between the roller 64 and the axis of shaft 23.

A second lever 69 is pivoted upon the shaft 23 adjacent to the lever 66and is adapted to be moved thereby and adjusted angularly with respectthereto by means of a screw 70 carrying the adjusting head 71, the screw70 being threaded through the downwardly and laterally extending portion72 of the lever 66 and bearing against a shoulder 73 of the lever-69.Thus, by adjusting the screw 70 by turning the head 71, the angularrelation between levers 66 and 69 may be varied.

The lever 69 is connected at its outer end at 74 through a substantiallyvertically extending link 75 to a cross shaft 76 which extends through avertical elongated slot 77 in the hollow sleeve 28 and is connected withthe shaft 44, so that rocking motion of the lever 69 is transmitted intovertical motion of the shaft 44 and thereby into vertical motion of theblow pipe 33.

Thus it will be seen that vertical motion may be imparted to the blowpipe from the motor 14 through the mechanism described to move it towardand away from the orifice in timed relation with the movement of otherparts of the device and specifically with that of the plunger which hasbeen described. While I have shown in Fig. 2 a cam 56 which imparts apeculiar motion to the blow pipe, I also contemplate that the blow pipemight have a zero motion by using a cam having a fixed radius, as shownat 56a (Fig. 54) The blow pipe is therefore susceptible of a variety ofmovements and has a variety of moving adjustments which may beenumerated as follows: first, the form of movement of the blow pipe maybe controlled by interchanging cams 56 for cams having otherconfigurations, as shown for example at 56-; second, the phase of theblow pipe movements may be adjusted with respect to the phase ofmovements of any or` all of the other operating devices by adjusting therelative angular position of the cam 56 with respect to the shaft 13.While this adjustment as shown necessitates the stoppage of the machinein order to carry it out, I contemplate also that means might beprovided, such as the differential mechanism of the Peiler Patent1,760,254, whereby this adjustment could be carried out during thecontinued operation of the machine; third, the amplitude of the blowpipe movement may be adjusted, that is the distance between the top andbottom limits of its movement. This may be accomplished by adjusting theposition of roll 64 with respect to the axis of shaft 23; and fourth,the range or position of the stroke of the blow pipe movement may bevaried by varying the angular relation between levers 66 and 69, whichis accomplished by rotating the screw head 71 so that for a givenposition of the cam 56 the blow pipe may be adjusted to various desiredvertical positions, thus simultaneously adjusting both the upper andlower limits of the blow pipe movement in the same direction and amount.Any or all of these adjustments may be used in combination with'anyother desired adjustments of the device, according to the will oftheoperator and according to the character of the articles to be formed.

Shear construction, mounting and operation Means are provided forsevering glass depending from the orifice comprising a pair of notchedshear blades which may, if desired, be formed, mounted, operated andadjusted as set forth in the aforesaid Peiler Patent 1,760,254. Shearsof this general character are illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 6 of thedrawings hereto. Referring particularly to Fig. 6 and comparing it toFig. 30 of the Peiler patent, it may be seen that the shears there shownare substantially the same as the Peiler shears save that in Fig. 6two-part shear arms and a shear guiding bracket 78 are provided. Alsothe shears of Fig. 6 are not shown

